Burkina Faso: Landlocked West African Nation—Profile

Burkina Faso ("Land of Upright People") is a landlocked country in West Africa, bordered by Mali, Niger, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Côte d'Ivoire. Capital: Ouagadougou.

Quick Facts

• Area: 274,200 km² (slightly larger than Colorado)
• Population: ~22 million (2023 est.)
• Languages: French (official), Mooré (widely spoken), +60 indigenous languages.
• Religion: ~64% Muslim, 23% Christian, 9% traditional/animist.
• Ethnic groups: Mossi (~52%), Fulani, Bobo, Gurunsi, others.

Economy

• Base: Agriculture (80% employment)—cotton, gold, peanuts, shea nuts.
• Gold: Africa's 4th largest producer; major export earner.
• Challenges: Low literacy, climate vulnerability (Sahel), insecurity (jihadist insurgency since 2015).

History & Politics

• Pre-colonial: Mossi Kingdoms (11th–19th c.).
• French colony (1896–1960) as Upper Volta.
• Independence 1960; name changed to Burkina Faso 1984 (Thomas Sankara).
• Multiple coups (1966, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1987, 2015, 2022).
• Current: Military junta (since Jan 2022); transition timeline contested.

Geography & Climate

• Sahel zone: semi-arid north, wetter south.
• Rainy season: May–Oct; dry harmattan wind Nov–Mar.
• Major rivers: Mouhoun (Black Volta), Nakambé (White Volta), Nazinon (Red Volta).

Despite instability, Burkina Faso's cultural vitality (film, music, craft) and resilient communities endure.